Petro de Luanda head coach Alexandre Santos has emerged as a frontrunner for the vacant Kaizer Chiefs job, but Amakhosi will have to beat tough competition in Wydad AC and Simba SC.
Despite facing competition, this publication has it from impeccable sources that Chiefs are intensifying their efforts to secure Santos, as first reported in this week’s iDiski Times newspaper.
Amakhosi have not won any silverware in nine years, and this season, their place in the top eight is not guaranteed, but getting Santos could potentially transform the fortunes of South Africa’s largest football club.
Chiefs have always maintained that they would be searching for a head coach at the end of the season, but Santos seems to be a perfect match for the job. However, iDiski Times also understands that not all has been settled even though talks have been opened.
STRONG COMPETITION
Santos is also believed to be courted by the struggling three-time African champions Wydad Athletic Club, who had their worst run in the CAF Champions League this season in a very long time, as they exited in the group stages.
Domestically, they have also been struggling in the Botola Pro League, as they look to finish outside the positions that could take them to the CAF inter-club positions next season.
Tanzanian giants Simba SC have also been mentioned as another suitor for Santos, as they aim to end the dominance of their arch- rivals, Young Africans (Yanga), who just wrapped up another Tanzanian Premier League title.
WHO IS SANTOS?
Amakhosi’s pursuit of the Portuguese-born coach makes a lot of sense. He’s won two Girabola titles since his arrival in Angola, and is on the verge of adding a third this season.
The 47-year-old is no unknown to many South Africans as he’s taken Petro to the CAF Champions League semi-finals in his first season with the club in 2021/2022, when they famously knocked out Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarters, and they again reached the quarter-finals in the current 2023/2024 tournament, losing to TP Mazembe.
He has also worked a lot with former Nigerian national team head coach Jose Peseiro as his assistant at FC Porto, SC Braga, Al Ahly and the Saudi Arabian national team, is said to be no stranger to the DStv Premiership, as he watches it regularly from Luanda.
His current contract expires by the end of the current season and it has been reported by Angolan media that he decided not to continue.
Several other foreign candidates have also applied and been linked to the Chiefs job, but it remains to be seen if they are fully compliant with the new SAFA coaching standards that will be introduced next season. A coach from outside the country must have a CAF A/ Pro Licence coaching badge and must have won a cup/league title in the last seven years.
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